Toner compositions

Abstract

The present disclosure provides toners and methods for their production. In embodiments, the amount of coagulant utilized in producing those toners may be less than amounts currently in use, which may have a beneficial effect by reducing the time for coalescence. Modified waxes may also be utilized which provide excellent gloss and charging characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An emulsion aggregation toner comprising:
 a resin, an optional colorant, and a modified paraffin wax comprising branched isomers and linear isomers, 
 wherein the branched isomers are present in an amount of from about 1% to about 20% of the wax and have a number average molecular weight of from about 520 to about 600, and the linear isomers are present in an amount of from about 80% to about 99% of the wax and have a number average molecular weight of from about 505 to about 530, 
 and wherein the toner is free of wax protrusions on the toner surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of styrenes, acrylates, methacrylates, butadienes, isoprenes, acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, acrylonitriles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(methyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(ethyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(propyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(butyl methacrylate-butadiene), poly(methyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(ethyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(propyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(butyl acrylate-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(methylstyrene-isoprene), poly(methyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(ethyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(propyl methacrylate-isoprene), poly(butyl methacrylate isoprene), poly(methyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(ethyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(propyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(butyl acrylate-isoprene), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-butyl methacrylate), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butadiene-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-isoprene-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butyl methacrylate-acrylic acid), poly(butyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate-acrylic acid), poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-acrylonitrile-acrylic acid), poly(acrylonitrile-butyl acrylate-acrylic acid), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the optional colorant comprises dyes, pigments, combinations of dyes, combinations of pigments, and combinations of dyes and pigments, and wherein the toner further comprises at least one stabilizer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, beta carboxyethyl acrylate, poly(2-carboxyethyl)acrylate, 2-carboxyethyl methacrylate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the branched isomers in the modified paraffin wax have a weight average molecular weight of from about 530 to about 580, and the linear isomers in the modified paraffin wax have a weight average molecular weight of from about 480 to about 550. 
     
     
       6. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the branched isomers of the modified paraffin wax have a number of carbon atoms of from about 31 to about 59, and the linear isomers of the modified paraffin wax have a number of carbon atoms of from about 24 to about 54. 
     
     
       7. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the toner possesses a size of from about 1 micron to about 20 microns. 
     
     
       8. The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the toner possesses a circularity of from about 0.982 to about 0.995. 
     
     
       9. An emulsion aggregation toner comprising:
 a resin selected from the group consisting of styrenes, acrylates, methacrylates, butadienes, isoprenes, acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, acrylonitriles, and combinations thereof, an optional colorant, and a modified paraffin wax comprising branched isomers and linear isomers, 
 wherein the branched isomers are present in an amount of from about 1% to about 20% of the wax and have a number average molecular weight of from about 520 to about 600, and the linear isomers are present in an amount of from about 80% to about 99% of the wax and have a number average molecular weight of from about 505 to about 530; and 
 wherein particles comprising the toner possess a circularity of from about 0.982 to about 0.995. 
 
     
     
       10. The toner of  claim 9 , wherein the resin comprises a poly(styrene-butyl acrylate), the optional colorant comprises dyes, pigments, combinations of dyes, combinations of pigments, and combinations of dyes and pigments, and wherein the branched isomers in the modified paraffin wax have a weight average molecular weight of from about 530 to about 580, and the linear isomers in the modified paraffin wax have a weight average molecular weight of from about 480 to about 550. 
     
     
       11. The toner of  claim 9 , wherein the branched isomers of the modified paraffin wax have a number of carbon atoms of from about 31 to about 59, the linear isomers of the modified paraffin wax have a number of carbon atoms of from about 24 to about 54, and the toner has a size of from about 1 micron to about 20 microns, and a circularity of from about 0.982 to about 0.995.